In the second episode of the fifth season of Voyager, HELP ME, I CRIED OVER A CHARACTER INTRODUCED AND KILLED OFF IN LESS THAN FORTY MINUTES, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS SHOW. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Star Trek.Â
HOW. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN.
Exploration of New Life
Let’s actually track the very reason why the climax of “Drone” is such a powerful moment. The heart of what Star Trek is about centers on discovery. Even if Voyager‘s mission is largely the result of circumstance, they’re still dedicated to the expansion of knowledge. Decades from home, there is still a value in exploration, and “Drone” highlights that. I honestly expected that this episode would be more of a moral conundrum concerning One’s right to life. That aspect is still here, but there’s a powerful switch in focus in the second half of the story.
Yet before we get there, that sense of discovery and wonder still permeates the script. Simply put: One should not exist. Not only was he created accidentally, but his creation came about in a way that literally had never happened before. Everything about him was unique, and therefore, he firmly fit within the parameters of what Starfleet celebrates and supports. As soon as Janeway recognized that a lifeform was manifesting in the science lab, she couldn’t bring herself to terminate it, which is consistent with what we’ve seen with other “new” lifeforms on this show.
Assimilation
But there’s so much more here than new life; Janeway immediately assigns the growth of One to Seven of Nine, and it is ONE OF THE BEST WRITING DECISIONS ON THE WHOLE SHOW. Not only does it allow the show to demonstrate Janeway’s continued trust in Seven, but… look, I just wasn’t prepared for how attached I was going to get to this. There’s a moment at the start of “Drone” where the Doctor walks in on Seven practicing a smile. It seemed like an adorable moment that had no other purpose than to suggest that Seven was still trying to learn to be human. However, it’s a thematic bombshell, especially once you note how emotive Seven is throughout this episode. What other facial expressions had she tested out? What other emotions was she dealing with?
Many of those we see in this episode. She becomes frustrated with One at numerous points in “Drone.” Jeri Ryan’s chemistry opposite J. Paul Boehmer is unreal, given that both of them portray their characters as reserved and mechanical. But I couldn’t deny the camaraderie and affection that grew between them. Initially, One was cold and uninterested in anything other than assimilating information, but even that warped into something fascinating: a genuine thirst for more. Boehmer manages to communicate these bursts of emotion with subtlety and grace, and then, we’re rewarded: Seven begins to show pride in One. It’s such a huge moment in the show, and somehow, this script upstages that. How?
Choices
By having Seven definitively resist assimilation back into the Borg. There’s none of the hesitation that we saw earlier in the show; she absolutely wants to stay on Voyager and remain human. This occurs alongside One’s development, which is unnerving and uplifting at the same time. It’s unnerving because Seven agonizes over whether or not to tell One about the Borg and what they do. It’s an understandable fear, though. What if One decides to join the Collective? Not only would that be a loss to Seven, but the Delta Quadrant as a whole would suffer from the massive advantage the Borg would gain from assimilating One’s 29th Century technology. That’s what kept me on the edge of my seat: would Voyager be forced into the monstrous decision of killing One to protect everyone else? I kept focusing on that name, too. It seemed so intentional. Was it worth it to murder One to save the whole?
But I interpreted his name wrongly; it was not about Voyager‘s choice, but One’s. He chose sacrifice twice. First, when he beamed over to the Borg sphere (WHAT OTHER GEOMETRICAL SHAPES WILL THEY USE TO TORMENT THE GALAXY WITH) and nearly died to destroy it. He could have survived with the Doctor’s help, but instead, he gave up his life to protect Voyager. That choice is so immense, and it continues to haunt me, the more I think about it. If you wanted proof that Seven’s lessons in humanity worked, there it is. One recognized the value in sacrifice; they knew the Borg would pursue them relentlessly until they were assimilated; and they recognized that such an assimilation would bring pain and suffering to others, most especially the Voyager crew.
And with One’s final words, he reminds Seven of her own humanity: she will learn to adapt to his loss.
I’M NOT CRYING, YOU ARE. Just kidding, it’s me.
The video for “Drone” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
Mark Links Stuff
– I am now on Patreon! There are various levels of support, from $1 up to whatever you want! You’ll get to read a private blog, extra reviews, and other such rewards. I POST A LOT OF CUTE PHOTOS, OKAY. Think of it like a private Tumblr blog that only SPECIAL PEOPLE get to read.
– I have updated my list of conventions and events for the remainder of the year and much of next year.  Check the full list of events on my Tour Dates / Appearances page.
– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often. My next Double Features for Mark Watches have been announced here.
- Mark Does Stuff is on Facebook! I’ve got a community page up that I’m running. Guaranteed shenanigans!
